Ip-based blocking of malware

Abstract

A security module on a client monitors file download activities at the client and reports hosting website data to a security server. A download analysis module at the security server receives a hosting website data report from the client, where the hosting website data report describes a domain name and an IP address of a website hosting a file the client is attempting to download. The download analysis module analyzes the domain name and IP address of the website to generate file download control data indicating whether to allow downloading of the file to the client. The download analysis module reports the file download control data to the security module of the client. The security module uses the file download control data to selectively block downloading of the file.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention pertains in general to computer security and in particular to the detection of malicious software downloads.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]There is a wide variety of malicious software (malware) that can attack modern computers. Malware threats include computer viruses, worms, Trojan horse programs, spyware, adware and crimeware. Modern malware is often designed to provide financial gain to the attacker. For example, malware can surreptitiously capture important information such as logins, passwords, bank account identifiers, and credit card numbers. Similarly, malware can provide hidden interfaces that allow the attacker to access and control the compromised computer.[0005]Attackers often camouflage malware by making the malware appear to be legitimate. For example, malware attackers offer fake antivirus software applications at their websites. Unsuspecting users are tricked into downloadin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]One aspect provides a computer-implemented method for blocking a download of malware. Embodiments of the method comprises receiving a hosting website data report, where the hosting website data report describes a domain name and an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a website hosting a file a client is attempting to download. The method determines whether the domain name of the website is on a list of trusted domains. The method determines whether the IP address of the website is on a list of IP addresses from which clients have downloaded malware. The method further generates file download control data indicating to block downloading of the file responsive to determining that the domain name of the website is not on the list trusted domains and that the IP address of the website is on the list of IP addresses from which clients have downloaded malware. The method reports the file download control data to the client. The client is adapted to use the file download control data to selectively block downloading of the file.

[0009]Another aspect provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for blocking a download of malware. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer program instructions for receiving a hosting website data report, where the hosting website data report describes a domain name and an IP address of a website hosting a file a client is attempting to download. The computer-readable storage medium further comprises computer program instructions for determining whether the domain name of the website is on a list of trusted domains. The computer-readable storage medium further comprises computer program instructions for determining whether the IP address of the website is on a list of IP addresses from which clients have downloaded malware. The computer-readable storage medi

Problems solved by technology

However, malware attackers defeat these security measures by frequently changing the domains from which the malware is distributed.

Such frequent domain changing makes traditional domain-based blocking of malware downloads nearly impossible because legitimate security software vendors cannot keep up.

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